Fasting is not a Diet
What is the difference between a religious fast and a diet? Dieting is about your body and health. Fasting is about your soul, God, and answers to prayer. Both are good; one is infinitely superior.
With a diet, incentives are many. Fitting into a smaller size is the Holy Grail of fashion and appearance. Feeling and looking good is the reward that gets us through a rumbling... Read More

BE GENUINE
Great Lenten Metanoia Project!
[Recently] I received a phone call from a friend who wanted to talk about the nature of repentance. It was a life-giving conversation. Last night, I received a phone call from someone, unrelated to the call the night before, who wanted to talk about, well — repentance. Clearly, people are interested in this all important word that is essential to our... Read More

Keeping Faith Alive During Life’s Dark Nights (Part III of IV)
Editor’s Note: In Part I, we looked at how faith is a response to revelation, how it penetrates the veil of the ordinary, and how it is essential to our relationship with God. In Part II, we considered the general patterns of growth which we experience. Today, we will begin to explore how to keep faith alive during our lives’... Read More

Dear Father John, I understand that demons hate God, but they also suffer from being separated from Him. Is it possible that a demon could repent, and accept God as we can?
The Catechism gives a direct answer to this question, so let’s start there. I will quote the four numbers in full, since they give an excellent summary of what we know about demons. It is located in the section discussing original... Read More

While working as a Chaplain Associate a few years ago, I visited “Joe” in his hospital room. He stopped drinking about ten days before but was getting very sick. “Drinking is stupid,” he said, “I never used to drink. One day I had a little bit, and then a little more and then I was drinking a lot, every day. Now, they’re doing tests and something might be wrong with my pancreas.... Read More

Dear Father John, I am a priest providing spiritual direction to a young man suffering with anger problems. He has recently returned to the sacraments. He is frustrated with God that he has asked him to take away this hurtful anger but God has not answered his prayer. Can you offer advice about how to overcome severe habitual challenges with anger?
Anger is the most complex of the human passions. Understanding... Read More

Dear Father John, I have had this question regarding forgiveness ever since my husband filed for divorce and treated me terribly during the process. He never acknowledged his treatment of me nor repented and asked for forgiveness, yet, in confession I was always told that I still must forgive him. Fortunately, eventually God gave me the grace to forgive him, as He made me see that, sinner that I am,... Read More

Dear Father John, I have had this question regarding forgiveness ever since my husband filed for divorce and treated me terribly during the process. He never acknowledged his treatment of me nor repented and asked for forgiveness, yet, in confession I was always told that I still must forgive him. Fortunately, eventually God gave me the grace to forgive him, as He made me see that, sinner that I am,... Read More

Dear Catholic Spiritual Direction: We are but days into Lent, and, after being to our church’s Way of the Cross tonight, I’m overwhelmed with the “low” that Lent is already. Are we to embrace the low to make the joy of Easter even greater, or is there still joy to be found in the 40 days of the Lenten journey? If it’s intended to be 40 days of all low, how do we prevent... Read More

Dear Father John, How much of a discussion in spiritual direction should focus on moral issues, such as habitual sin and possibly that of grave matter which may not necessarily be mortal sin? So much discussion here is only about how to pray well, making a program for life, finding a spiritual director and things of that nature. What about living life every day? It seems to me that talking to a spiritual... Read More

Listen in as Melissa shares some of her own personal prayer journey and a few of the difficulties she has encountered along the way. The post A Personal Prayer Journey – DI Radio Show and Podcast appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.

Listen in this week as Dan and Melissa discuss the importance of prayer with the saints as well as examine the meaning behind Jesus' words about a rich man entering heaven. The post Prayer with the Saints – DI Radio Show and Podcast appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.

This week, listen in as Dan and Melissa share their own personal stories of difficulties and progress in prayer. The post Personal Stories of Difficulties and Progress in Prayer appeared first on SpiritualDirection.com / Catholic Spiritual Direction.